Sony's Dolby Atmos soundbar reaches Amazon at an all-time low price
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: A Battle of Soundbar Elegance
In the realm of home theater soundbars, two titans stand out: the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 and the Sonos Beam Gen 2. Both offer unique features and trade-offs, making them suitable for different preferences and setups.
Sound System and Immersion
The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 is a comprehensive home theater system, boasting a separate wireless subwoofer and rear speakers, creating a 5.1-channel setup with dedicated upward-firing drivers for true Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound. This setup delivers richer and more spacious audio that fills larger rooms effectively.
In contrast, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is compact and does not include separate surround or subwoofer units. It simulates Dolby Atmos height effects through psychoacoustic processing (HRTF) with front-facing drivers, resulting in a less immersive but still impressive 3D sound experience suitable for smaller spaces or minimalist setups.
Design and Size
The Sonos Beam Gen 2's compact, slim profile makes it ideal for tight spaces and minimalist lifestyles, while the Sony Theatre Bar 6 setup is larger and more suited to bigger rooms as it involves multiple components including the soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers.
Sound Quality and Clarity
Sony's Theatre Bar 6 offers rich, immersive sound with clear dialogue enhancement features like Voice Zoom 3, and a more pronounced dynamic range and spatial organization. However, it can sound slightly clinical, trading some warmth for clarity and detail.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 provides detailed and refined audio with an enveloping presentation that works well for both movies and music, and integrates well into a multi-room Sonos system with smart features and app control.
Features and Ecosystem
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 supports smart features like room calibration ('TruePlay'), multiple streaming protocols (AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect), and multi-room wireless audio integration within the Sonos ecosystem. Sony’s Theatre Bar 6 includes features tailored for TV integration, such as Centre Sync with compatible Sony TVs for simple control and enhanced playback, and supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Volume and Power
Sony’s Theatre Bar 6, with its additional subwoofer and rear speakers, generally produces louder and more powerful sound appropriate for larger rooms and more cinematic experiences. The Sonos Beam Gen 2, being smaller, offers good but comparatively lower volume levels suited to smaller spaces.
A Matter of Preference
The trade-off is essentially between full surround immersive hardware and power (Sony) versus compact design, convenience, and smart ecosystem integration (Sonos). If a listener prioritizes room-shaking explosions and immersive Dolby Atmos effects over delicate detail retrieval, the price reduction of the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 makes its distinctive approach compelling.
For those seeking pure audio quality, especially for music, there are superior options, such as the Sonos Beam Gen 2. The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6, with its hardware-heavy design, may come with trade-offs that potential buyers should consider.
Availability and Pricing
The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 soundbar is available at Amazon for £400, a discount of £77 from its original price of £477. The main soundbar is 95cm wide and paired with a hefty wireless subwoofer. If the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 doesn't meet your preferences, there's always the option to peruse other soundbars from our list of the best soundbars for every budget.
Here are the four sentences containing the given words:
- The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 is a part of the home theater gadgets that includes a separate wireless subwoofer and rear speakers.
- When it comes to making a deal, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 soundbar is available at Amazon for £400.
- After conducting a review on numerous speakers, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 proves to be a suitable match for its compact design and hi-fi sound quality.
- The Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar system is a gadget compatible with smart features like room calibration ('TruePlay') and multi-room wireless audio integration.
